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Anxiety symptoms / Sleep disorder?

Posted , 45 users are following.

GD10
GD10

Hi guys, I'm new to the site but glad I found somewhere to share my symptoms.

I have read quite a bit about anxiety/stress and these symptoms below may fall into this category but the issue I have with this, is that I have nothing to be anxious/stressful about! All is OK with job, money, house, relationship etc so I'm not sure how this all started. Could I be anxious about this illness? Symptoms below.....(also posted in sleep disorder forum).

I'm getting a sort of electrical shock when trying to fall asleep. This electrical shock seems to be described on other sites as 'jumps' or 'zaps' or 'surges of energy'. It happens not when I'm sleeping but the moment I am about to fall asleep. Its like a sort of butterflies feeling in the stomach and then a rush/surge of energy to the brain which gives you a 'jump' and electrical feeling in the head and sometimes upper body. The more extreme they are sometimes produce a twitch in maybe the arm or leg. Its not painful but I guess is quite scary when it happens. These can happen numerous times a night.

Many friends/family I have spoken to say this is normal and they are familiar with the symptoms (I understand what they mean as it can be quite similar to when you suddenly wake from a bad dream) but mine seem to be a lot more often and extreme. I know my symptoms don't seem to be normal.

I've been having these for about 5-6 weeks now (some nights are worse than others) but generally its been more or less every night. This has turned into a vicious cycle because when you actually close your eyes at night to go to sleep you are actually waiting for the 'shock' to happen instead of trying to sleep. Obviously the less sleep you have, the less functional you are the next day and so on and so on. You then get sleep deprived which I believe also may trigger this.

The only other thing I can add to my symptoms is sometimes during the day I get a spaced out/empty/dizzy/cloudy feeling in the head (hard to explain). Sometimes this can turn into a sort of brain/head sensation where you feel you need to kind of 'shake it off'. Again, its hard to explain, something like if you have restless feet and you need to kick out of it but its in the head so you need to give yourself a shake to snap out of it.

About me - I'm a fit and healthy 35 year old guy. I actually exercise quite a lot (go to gym/swim 4 times a week and have run numerous marathons over the past year). Although this fitness regime has stopped since I have started having these symptoms as I am feeling quite weak/tired due to not getting much sleep due to it. I have no major prior illnesses and I am not on any medication. I don't want to get in the habit of taking sleep medication.

I have been to the hospital and spent the night where they performed numerous blood tests/Heart ECG/X Rays/Urine and all came back OK. The only issue I had was slightly high blood pressure (but not high enough to be put on any medication). I have also been for an MRI scan and EEG epilepsy test. I will find the results with these in about 5 weeks time.

Anyway, that's my symptoms and hopefully someone might feel at ease that they are going through something similar.

Reading similar posts on the internet I don't think anyone has come to the conclusion on what in fact is causing these problems, even though a lot of the people actually been for tests and seen doctors. Has anyone experienced these issues?

Thanks guys, feel free to get in touch smile

1 like, 41 replies

41 Replies

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  • sanderella
    sanderella

    Posted

    Are you taking any prescription medications?
  • GD10
    GD10

    Posted

    I'm not taking any prescribed medication.
  • sanderella
    sanderella

    Posted

    Wow, then I don't have a clue. I had mono once that made me pretty tired but nothing like my Klonopin. Hope you find out what's causing you grief.
  • designergirl12
    designergirl12

    Posted

    Don't know much about this but a nurse told me how to relax before going to sleep. Lie in bed and tell your feet to relax, then tell your calves, knees etc right up to the top, keep your body relaxed. Breathe deeply and 'send yourself to sleep' It could be that with all the exercise you do you have forgotten how to switch off,
  • sanderella
    sanderella

    Posted

    Thank you for that simple suggestion. Life goes by so fast we forget how to keep it simple. Thank you.
  • geo23580
    geo23580 GD10

    Posted

    Hi Gd10 - I was wondering if you have figured out what might be causing your issue yet? I have the exact same problem happening to me! It's so bizarre - I haven't seen a doctor yet, but I may soon if it doesn't stop. I hope you are doing better!
    • holly_t
      holly_t geo23580

      Posted

      Hi there

      I'm also wondering if you guys got anywhere with this? I have the same problem and I've been prescribed citalopram and amitriptyline - but wondering if I'll ever go back to normal!

      Thanks

    • rafi37593
      rafi37593 holly_t

      Posted

      hi i hope your well

      i have thesame issue for 4 months and it gave mo so much anxiety.

      have you already overvome with it

  • Guest
    Guest GD10

    Posted

    hi --- i've now finally read that someone also experiences this problem. sorry to hear you're experiencing it, it's annoying and somewhat 'scary' --- i too have the same problem, but a 2mg diazepam alleviates the problem for the evening. i've recently come off 'citalopram' after being on them for 10 years. i'm about a week dry now, and as soon as my head hits the pillow and i try to sleep, i get jerks and twitches just like you explain. i'm waiting for a call from my doctor as to what to do, but i may have to reluctantly go back on the citalopram. strange you don't or have ever taken medication for anything related to the mind... but i'd advise checking with a professional about an anxiety disorder. i've read the brain is very active when trying to sleep and i think these jerks or twitches are your brain zapping around over excitably. would be interested to hear how you got on, as i see your post was around a year ago. thx L
  • GD10
    GD10

    Posted

    Hi guys, so its been well over a year since my original post which started this discussion.  Apologies for not coming back sooner.....I felt in order to try to combat these issues I wanted to 'get away' from reading these forums.  But I also understand it is a good place for people to talk about their issues which can ease peoples minds.

    So let me give you an update:

    Firstly, DO NOT WORRY.  These symptoms are not life threatening.  I have had every test available and all results came back OK.

    I admit it is quite confusing/scary as I still to this day do not know what brought on these symptoms and how they actually went away (but they do go away!).  I was given no medication to combat it.  I had a couple of weeks off work and was told just to rest up, also wasnt allowed to drive and basically I just need to put my feet up and relax (you will all agree that that is easier said than done).  There was a slight chance that it could have been minor epilepsy but this was not the case.

    The only advice I can give and what has worked for me was some basic lifestyle changes (apologies if these seem a bit obvious but they do actually work).  I dont take any medication.

    - Morning ritual.  I now spend an extra bit of time in the morning when I get up and leave for work.  I dont try to 'rush' out of bed and into work.  Take your time having breakfast, have a shower, watch some TV.  I now dont tend to leave the house until I am 'ready'.  I might be late for work but I dont try to combat the day until i feel i am awake and ready.  Try and get into a routine.

    - Change of diet.  Eat plenty of fruit and veg.  I have cut down a lot on caffiene and now drink natural drinks like green tea.  Some porridge or muesli for breakfast.  Bananas in the afternoon and some fish for tea.  Changed to Skimmed Milk.  Stay hydrated throughout the day with water.

    Must admit that I still drink alcohol quite a bit on weekends (cut it out in the week).

    - Meditation and breathing exercises.  I find this helped a LOT.  I bought a basic/beginner guide off Amazon for a couple of quid.  A 5-10 minute breathing exercise just before bed relaxes the mind.  This really helps and I still do some of these exercises when i'm getting a bit stressed out.  I also found that using an extra pillow so my head is higher when trying to get to sleep helps.

    - Exercise.  I was quite fit when these symptoms started happening so not sure how big a part this plays in the recovery.  I find that fresh air helps.  Have a good stretch and go for a walk in the evenings.

    In general, I just had a new outlook in life and learned to chill out a bit more.  Try hard to not get stressed about things which are not important in life.

    I know this sounds very basic but it does help.  I do still get days when i'm spaced out (especially in evenings after work when i'm trying to relax) but again following some of my tips above seem to help.  Dont worry about these symptoms and be happy this is nothing serious.

     

    • glenn43407
      glenn43407 GD10

      Posted

      Thanks dude your story helped out a lot. I'm experiencing the same thing. I'm also fit to be honest I think it might be the protein intake.
    • joseph0823
      joseph0823 GD10

      Posted

      Hi. My name is Joseph and I am going through the exact same thing. I wanted to know if you had a chance to talk about what helped you feel better. I'm so frustrated with feeling this way it helps to know it can go away I just want to know what and how you did it. My number is 661-474-0509 if you can please give me a call. Thank you.

    • Morgan73cda
      Morgan73cda joseph0823

      Posted

      I have experienced these symptoms and one tonight, probably been a couple of months since my last one. It doesn’t happen very often. Mine includes a LOUD vibration in my head, couple times it was so loud in my head, I thought a bomb went off. Actually Jolted me like one did go off because my whole neck/head jerked and vibrated. very scary!   Do you hear loud sounds with yours?
  • Devin334
    Devin334 GD10

    Posted

    I started getting the same thing about 3 weeks ago. It happens while I'm starting to fall asleep. I jerk and then get woke up by it. Could be my arm, my neck, my lungs causing me to yell out, or my legs. Except, I later try and fall asleep and the same thing happens. This goes on all night. Also, If I'm sharing a bed with a S.O. I've been told that I twitch in my sleep. I don't know what to do. I don't go to bed anxious 9r worrying about anything.
  • Hamako
    Hamako GD10

    Posted

    I am having the same problem when falling assleep I also seem to have the same problem you are with the dizzy or cloudy feeling in my head. I am only 15 and not super fit and not on any meds rolleyes
    • Hamako
      Hamako

      Posted

      I was searching into it more and found this "As we give up our bodies to sleep, sudden twitches escape our brains, causing our arms and legs to jerk. Some people are startled by them, others are embarrassed. Me, I am fascinated by these twitches, known as hypnic jerks. Nobody knows for sure what causes them, but to me they represent the side effects of a hidden battle for control in the brain that happens each night on the cusp between wakefulness and dreams." ~ BBC - Future
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